The Wright Center Hosts Breast Cancer Support Program

The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement is hosting a special Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support program on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 5-7 p.m. at The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary care community health center in Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with keynote speaker Dr. Lisa Thomas of Hematology & Oncology Associates of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Julie Rutkowski of the Strong and Coura’Jess Foundation will also talk about the foundation that helps women with terminal illnesses connect with resources that can help their mental, spiritual, and physical health during treatment. The nonprofit foundation is named in honor of her daughter Jessica Rutkowski, a mother of three who died in 2021 from stage 4 triple negative breast cancer.

The program is free, but reservations are requested by calling Holly Przasnyski at 570-209-3275 or emailing her at przasnyskih@TheWrightCenter.org. For more information about The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement, go to TheWrightCenter.org/patient-and-community-engagement.

Committee organizers include, from left, Karen Case, Helayna Szescila, deputy chief governance officer, The Wright Center; Kimeth Robinson, manager, The Wright Center for Community Health in Wilkes-Barre; Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, president and CEO, The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, and co-chair, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors; Kara Seitzinger, executive director, public affairs/advisor liaison to the president and CEO, The Wright Center; Mary Marrara, co-chair, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors; Lorraine Lupini, board member, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors; and Ellen Walko, secretary, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement Board of Directors. Missing from photo are Geraldine McAndrew, director of development and relations for community outreach, The Wright Center; Holly Przasnyski, director, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement; and Kathleen Doyle, director, patient-centered services, The Wright Center.

Geisinger Going Pink, Hosting Health Talks to Combat Breast Cancer

The system will also deploy mobile mammogram bus

This October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Geisinger is doing its part to raise awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection. 

Geisinger hospitals across central Pennsylvania will be lit up in pink, and the mobile mammogram bus will bring screenings to patients in underserved communities.

Geisinger will also sponsor two free public education events:

  • PA Health Talk: Genetics and Risk of Developing Breast Cancer will be held virtually Oct. 9 from 6 – 7 p.m.
  • PA Health Talk: Comprehensive breast care, a discussion of breast cancer prevention and treatment, will be held at Geisinger Woodbine, 16 Woodbine Lane, Danville, Oct. 10 from 6 – 8 p.m. A virtual link will be available.

To register for either PA Health Talk, visit events.geisinger.org.

The pink mobile mammogram bus will be available at the following locations:

  • Sept. 30 – Oct. 4: 1525 N. Church St., Hazle Township
  • Oct. 7 – 11: 1 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville
  • Oct. 14 – 18:  35 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top
  • Oct. 21 – 25: 1 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville
  • Oct. 28 – Nov. 1: 1525 N. Church St., Hazle Township
    • Patients can schedule mammograms through MyGeisinger or by calling 570-271-6000.

“Early detection is one of the best ways to win the battle against breast cancer,” said Robin Skrine, M.D., director of breast health for Geisinger. “The American Society of Breast Surgeons and other leading health groups agree that lives are saved through annual mammograms beginning at age 40 — or earlier if there’s a history of breast cancer or other risk factors in a patient’s medical history.”

Along with scheduling mammograms, Dr. Skrine urged women to attend the PA Health Talks to learn more about breast cancer and genetic risks.

To learn more about breast cancer care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/breastcare.

The Wright Center – Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a Time to Tout Preventive Measures

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and there is much to acknowledge in the progress made over recent years to combat this highly treatable disease.

Raising awareness remains crucial, as breast cancer continues to affect alarming numbers of people. Aside from skin cancer, it is the most common cancer among American women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 240,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year, and 42,000 die from it. While men are much less at risk, about 1 in 100 breast cancer diagnoses still occur in males.

Though breast cancer primarily impacts women over the age of 40, many younger women are also affected. Chances are, someone among your family, friends, or colleagues has faced or is currently battling the disease.

Thankfully, advancements in early detection and genetic testing for the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes have dramatically improved how breast cancer is treated. And we can’t forget the enormous contributions of countless nonprofit organizations, raising awareness, securing funding, and providing support services.

When it comes to prevention, self-exams and regular mammograms are still the best methods for early detection, catching the cancer when it’s smaller, more manageable, and before it spreads. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the five-year relative survival rate for localized breast cancer is 99%.

You can also reduce your own risk by maintaining a healthy weight, staying active, limiting alcohol intake, and breastfeeding your children if possible.

At The Wright Center, we are doing our part to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the year, we partner with Lackawanna Mobile X-Ray to offer mammogram screenings at various locations across Northeast Pennsylvania.

The mobile mammogram unit will be at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Center in Wilkes-Barre, 169 N. Pennsylvania Ave., on Thursday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Thursday, Dec. 12, from 1-4 p.m.

Additional appointments are available at The Wright Center’s Teaching Health Centers in Scranton, 501 S. Washington Ave., and Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, on the first Wednesday of each month. Screenings will be available in Scranton from 9 a.m. to noon and in Jermyn from 1:30-5 p.m. this month on Oct. 2.

To schedule an appointment, please call 570-230-0019.

In addition, The Wright Center for Patient & Community Engagement will host a Wonderful Women Breast Cancer Support program on Wednesday, Oct. 16, from 5-7 p.m. at Teaching Health Center in Wilkes-Barre.

Dr. Lisa Thomas from Hematology & Oncology Associates of Northeastern Pennsylvania will deliver the keynote address, and Julie Rutkowski from the Strong and Coura’Jess Foundation will share the foundation’s mission of supporting women with terminal illnesses. The foundation was named in honor of Julie’s daughter, Jessica Rutkowski, a mother of three who passed away in 2021 from stage 4 triple-negative breast cancer. Admission to the event is free, though reservations are encouraged. Please contact Holly Przasnyski at 570-209-3275 or email her at przasnyskih@thewrightcenter.org.

This promises to be a meaningful event and reflects our ongoing dedication to women’s health. At The Wright Center, women have access to a wide range of health services, including preventive cancer screenings, well-woman visits, bone density tests, immunizations, Pap smears, HPV testing, STI services, and hormonal testing.

“I want to emphasize once again that breast cancer is far from a death sentence, but it’s vital to promote the preventive services that can make a life-saving difference.”

Kristina Tanovic, M.D., FACP, is board-certified in internal medicine and obesity medicine. Dr. Tanovic is accepting new patients of all ages at The Wright Center for Community Health’s primary care center in the Scranton Counseling Center, 329 Cherry St. Please call 570-591-5250 to make an appointment.

Geisinger – How to Perform a Self-Breast Exam

How to perform a self-breast exam
Know exactly what to do, and what to look for, so you can keep on top of your health.
Dr. Rebecca Jordan, general surgery, breast, Geisinger

Life can get busy, but you’re never too busy to take a moment to check on your health. A monthly, at-home breast exam is just one of the many ways you can keep on top of any changes with your body.

Along with your regular mammogram, monthly breast self-exams give you the opportunity to check for variations in skin texture, bumps or changes in your breasts.

But, exactly how do you do a breast self-exam?

Performing a breast exam at home

It’s a good idea to align these monthly self-exams with your menstrual cycle. Choose a time when your breasts are the least tender or swollen. The best time is often the week after your period ends.

Looking at a mirror, keep your arms at your sides to start. And remember that the key to these exams is to look for any changes compared to the previous month. You’ll begin your self-exam by looking for any visual changes in your breasts’ appearance.

Visual changes in your breast appearance may include:

  • Puckering or dimpling of the skin
  • Changes in your breast size
  • Nipple inversion

Next, lie down to spread out your breast tissue to make it easier to feel for any bumps or lumps. Take your time as you feel around your breast and stick to a pattern — such as moving clockwise or up and down.

Use the pads of your fingers to feel around, use different levels of pressure and gently squeeze your nipple to check for discharge.

Examine your entire breast before moving to your other side and make sure to feel around your armpits, because your breast tissue extends up to that area.

You can also perform a self-exam in the shower, using soap so your fingers glide up and down your skin more easily.

When should you call your doctor to schedule a mammogram?

Remember, just because you feel a lump or have any symptoms doesn’t mean you have breast cancer. But it’s always a good idea to follow up with your doctor to rule it out.

Schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any of the following:

  • A hard lump in your breast or underarm
  • Bloody nipple discharge
  • Changes in your breast size
  • Nipple inversion
  • Pain redness, warmth or swelling in your breast
  • Puckering or dimpling
  • Scaly skin
  • Sores or rashes

At this appointment, your doctor will perform an external breast exam, like the one you get at your annual appointment. In some cases, they may recommend additional testing.

For younger people, we may only recommend an ultrasound. Other times, we may recommend a magnetic resonance imagining test — or MRI — which can help when there have been no findings through other imaging tests but other symptoms present, including nipple discharge.

Your doctor may even recommend a mammogram, especially if you have dense breasts or a lump that requires further testing. A mammogram, or low-dose X-ray exam of your breasts, will allow your doctor to detect any changes in your breast tissue that can’t be detected during a breast exam.

You’ll be scheduled for either a screening mammogram or a diagnostic mammogram to determine the cause of your symptoms and come to a diagnosis.

Remember that keeping on top of your health, including scheduling regular mammograms and self-exams, is important to detecting signs of breast cancer at their earliest stages — when they are easiest to treat.

By following these steps each month, you’re doing just that — taking steps towards your healthiest self.

To learn more about breast cancer care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/breastcare.

Geisinger – What Can Raise Your Risk of Breast Cancer?

What can raise your risk of breast cancer?
While you can’t control all your risk factors of breast cancer, you can arm yourself with knowledge. Better-informed health decisions, like taking preventive measures, could reduce your risk.
By: Rebecca Jordan, DO, general surgery, breast, Geisinger

Breast cancer is one of the better-known conditions because it’s relatively common. It’s likely you or someone you know — a friend, family member, neighbor or coworker — will be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fortunately, you can take charge of your breast health now to help change the direction of your narrative and keep your breast cancer risk as low as possible. While breast cancer can’t always be prevented, regular screenings and healthy lifestyle choices can reduce your risk. 

The important first step is arming yourself with knowledge and the right resources to help prevent breast cancer or catch it in its earliest stages when success rates are higher. When you know your risk factors of breast cancer, you can make informed health decisions and take preventative measures by changing elements in your environment and lifestyle.

Modifiable risk factors of breast cancer

Modifiable risk factors are those you can control. You can modify lifestyle choices like diet, physical activity and alcohol consumption. Scientists don’t know what causes breast cancer. But they do know positive changes in your environment and daily habits can reduce your breast cancer risk.

Maintain a healthy weight and eat a balanced diet

Being overweight or obese is a known breast cancer risk factor. Exercise regularly and eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins to lower your risk. Limiting your intake of processed food, sugar and red meat may also be beneficial.

Stay physically active

Because a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of breast cancer, aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise (brisk walking, swimming or biking) or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise (running or aerobics) each week.

Limit alcohol consumption

The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of breast cancer. If you choose to drink alcohol, limit the amount to no more than one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men.

Quit smoking

Smoking cigarettes, being around secondhand smoke or using other tobacco products are known risk factors. The harmful chemicals in tobacco can increase your risk of breast cancer, especially when you use or are exposed to them for long periods of time.

Limit exposure to certain chemicals and pollutants

Exposure to harmful substances, such as pesticides — especially DDT — industrial chemicals, plastic that contains BPA and even some beauty products that include parabens, can increase your risk of breast cancer. However, more research is needed in this area.

Understand the impact of your reproductive history

Childbirth can affect your risk, too. Factors that increase your risk of breast cancer include becoming pregnant for the first time after age 30, not breastfeeding and never giving birth at all. 

Avoid hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is used to relieve symptoms of menopause and help prevent osteoporosis. But according to research, taking some forms of hormone replacement therapy, especially those that combine estrogen and progesterone, for more than five years during menopause can raise your risk of breast cancer.

If you’re considering hormone therapy, talk to your doctor about the benefits versus risks to decide if it’s right for you.

Can deodorant cause breast cancer?

Because underarm antiperspirant or deodorant is applied near the breast, some fear that the potentially harmful ingredients in these products, such as aluminum compounds or parabens, might be absorbed into the body, disrupt hormone levels and lead to breast cancer.

Research on this topic is limited, but the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute state there is no convincing scientific evidence to support the claim that deodorant or antiperspirant use increases the risk of breast cancer.

While concerns about deodorant and antiperspirant use persist, focusing on known risk factors and taking appropriate steps to maintain breast health are the most important things you can do to reduce your risk. 

Can birth control cause breast cancer?

Many studies have found consistent evidence that women who use birth control pills that contain both estrogen and progesterone have a slightly higher risk of developing breast cancer. This is especially true if they have used them for longer than 10 years.

We know that estrogen and progesterone stimulate the development and growth of some cancers, but studies vary on the true risk of these medications. Fortunately, research also shows us that once the pills are stopped, the risk for breast cancer seems to return to normal within about 10 years.

If you’re considering oral contraceptives, talk to your doctor. They can guide you based on your medical history, risk factors and birth control preferences. Weigh the risks versus benefits with a healthcare professional to decide what’s best for you.

Nonmodifiable risk factors of breast cancer

Nonmodifiable risk factors are those beyond your control, including your age, gender and family history of breast cancer. Although you can’t change these risk factors, being aware of them can help you and your healthcare provider make informed decisions about screening and risk management.

Nonmodifiable risk factors of breast cancer include:

  • Your age, especially if you’re older than 50
  • Family history of breast or ovarian cancer
  • Inherited genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
  • Dense breast tissue
  • Early menstruation (before age 12) and late menopause (after age 55)

Reducing your risk factors of breast cancer

Now you know what changes to make in your environment and daily habits to reduce your modifiable risk factors. But don’t forget about screenings and early detection strategies. They’re crucial in the fight against breast cancer.

Regular breast cancer screenings, such as mammograms and clinical breast exams, can help detect the disease in its early stages when it’s most treatable. If you’re in your 20s or 30s, start getting a clinical breast exam every one to three years when you visit your primary care provider or gynecologist. Before turning 40, talk to your doctor about risk factors that determine how often you should have a screening mammogram. The American Society of Breast Surgeons recommends women of average risk start annual screening mammograms at age 40.

Do you know you have nonmodifiable risk factors for breast cancer, such as a family history or genetic mutations? Your doctor can make personalized recommendations for earlier or additional breast screening and discuss options for risk reduction, such as medications and preventive surgeries.

Early detection is the best protection: The five-year survival rate is highest for early-stage breast cancer. Understanding your unique risk profile, you can work with your healthcare team to develop a personalized plan for early detection and risk reduction — and beat the odds if you’re diagnosed.

To learn more about breast cancer care at Geisinger, visit geisinger.org/breastcare.

Misericordia University Hosts Event on Breast Cancer

Join us on Monday, April 8th, at 6:00 p.m., in Insalaco Hall rooms 218/219 at Misericordia University, as we welcome Dr. Landfranchi for an enlightening session. Dive into an exploration of the reasons behind the 5.3% increase among women aged 20-29. Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from an expert in the field. To learn more, please visit http://forms.misericordia.edu/events/pdfs/P_76077AngelaLanfranchiSpeakerFlyerPROOF.pdf.

Geisinger Hospitals Going Pink This October

A study funded by the American Cancer Society found that annual mammograms substantially reduce the risk of dying from breast cancer. The study, published in the journal Radiology, comes at a critical time, as a staggering number of women have missed their regular mammogram over the past 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This October, in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month, Geisinger is doing its part to raise awareness about the importance of early breast cancer detection. Geisinger hospitals across Central Pennsylvania will be lit pink in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the millions of people and families who have battled and are battling the disease.

All Geisinger Health Plan members will receive a pair of pink socks in the mail to remind them and their loved ones to schedule their annual mammograms. Geisinger is also sending automated phone messages that connect members with its customer care team for easy mammogram scheduling.

“Mammography detects breast cancer early, before symptoms become obvious. Mammograms can also detect benign (non-cancerous) breast disease such as cysts and fibroadenomas. The American College of Radiology and other leading health groups have determined that the most lives are saved with annual mammograms beginning at age 40. Your doctor may recommend starting earlier if you have a family history or other risk factors.” said Dr. Rosemary Leeming, director of the Breast Program, Geisinger.

In 2019, Geisinger unveiled its mobile mammography unit, and the pink bus will continue to help patients in underserved areas this year – a convenient way to schedule mammogram appointments.

“This October, let us all remember the loved ones we have lost to breast cancer, support those in treatment, and reaffirm our commitment to raising awareness on the importance of early detection of breast cancer in our communities,” added Dr. Leeming.

For more information on mammograms and breast cancer care, visit geisinger.org/breastcare to schedule your mammogram.